$3,900,000

In the 1890s, the architect Clarence True, who designed some of Manhattan's most distinguished townhouses, broke away from the steep-stooped brownstone rows of the Upper West Side. His signature townhouse introduced a carved limestone facade and a gracious low stoop just above the sidewalk. 473 West 143rd Street is one of four contiguous True townhouses on this block in the Hamilton Heights Historic District. In the hands of one owner for several decades, the house has been thoughtfully updated and meticulously preserved rather than gutted. Original woodwork, pocket doors, soaring ceilings and seven fireplaces (four working) remain intact. This five-story, 4,825 SF home sits on a 17' x 100' lot. The owner's residence opens into a foyer anchored by a period fireplace and a stately staircase. The upper floors hold five spacious bedrooms, a bonus walk-in closet/nursery and three and a half baths. A finished lower level adds another full bath, room for a gym and extra storage. A one-bedroom apartment with a private entrance provides rental income, or it can be easily reunited with the house to create a six-bedroom single-family home. The home has not one but two landscaped outdoor spaces: a garden with a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, and a planted roof terrace, open to the sky, with a second fully equipped outdoor kitchen. Hamilton Grange, Hamilton Terrace and City College's landmark Gothic campus are moments away, and Midtown is a 15 minute ride by express subway. It is offered at $808 per square foot, compared with $1,100 to $1,600 for recent Clarence True townhouse sales on the Upper West Side and more than $2,200 downtown. For the buyer who appreciates provenance, craftsmanship and value, 473 West 143rd Street is a house that comes along, literally, once in a generation. Private showings by appointment.